Expression device for keyboard musical instruments.



No. 881,464. PATENTED MAR. 10, 1908. J. w. DARLEY, JR-

EXPRESSION DEVICE FOR KEYBOARD MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

PPLIOATION FILED DB .1 1 B B 2 A 0 3 905 EN WED AUG 1907 4SHEBIS SHEET L Y No. 881,464. IPATENTED MAR. 10,1908.

J w HARLEY, JR.

EXPRESSION DEVICE FOR KEYBOARD MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED DEO.13. 1905. RENEWED AU .2 190 G 7 mums-51mm 2.

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No. 881,464. PATBNTED MAR. 10, 1908.

J. w. 'DARLBY, JR.

.EXPRESSION DEVICE FOR KEYBOARD MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

IonrInnn.1.'.N APPLIOAT L n o a 1905 RE nwnn we 2 1907 4SHEETS SHEET 3.

I mlfllllllll immnmmn v 'awmum, c: Johrz/WflarZeyJrg m Ww A MO No. 881,464. PATENTED MAR. 10, 1908. J. w. DARLEY, JR.

EXPRESSION DEVICE FOR KEYBOARD MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS. uruoumx FILED 11110.13. 1905. RENEWED AUG. 2, 1907.

Q can no 0000 a on 7-7/1 1%, 757?? 7015 7 a I avwewtoz, JoimYVDarZeg gim w m JOHN W. DARLEY,JR., OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

EXPRESSION DEVICE FOR KEYBOARD MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March- 10, 1908.

Application filed December 13, 1905, Serial No. 291,621. Renewed August2, 1907. Serial No. 386,763.

To all whom it may concern:

Bait known that I JHN W. DAnLEY, Jr., a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore city, in the State of Maryland,

have invented certain new and useful Im-- provements in Expression-Devices for Keyoard Musical Instruments; a'ndI do hereby declare the following to bee full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My pre'scntinvention relates to improvements in musical instruments, and it is in tended to provide dynamic means operated by a key, whereby one or more sound.pro-

ducing means may be 'sounded by single movement of said key, the particular sound producing means that is sounded,-or the number of said sound-producin means that are sounded being determined by the speed impressed upon the key by. the operator.

My invention is especially applicable to organs, harmoniums, or such.

of the same or diiferent timbre by a single movement of the key. In practice with organs this is now accomplished by means of a series of movable stops which have to be moved by hand from time to time, and interfere very materially with the laying of the performer, and also preclude t 1e possibility of producing. music having the va- 3 5 riety of expression of that produced on the ordinary piano forte. The device may also i be used to vary the force of the air applied to the sounding-means and change the pitch of the sound as well as'its loudness. The

40 invention may alsojbe adapted to striking one or more strings accordingto the will of the performer, and in fact, it"might be applie to a large number of instruments.

My invention is shown as applied to a grand organ. in which the velocity of movement of the key is caused to be the determining factor in selecting in electric circuit, the completion of which will"ope'rate one or more eds oipipes of the organ, as will be here-c .50 ihafter described. I v I of the controller drum.

1ke instru-.

ments where it is desired to sound either a 25 single sound producing means, or a: number of them'of the same or difierent pitch and I Figure 1 is a sectional elevation'showing I much reduced sca e, and are altogether out 0 of proportion to the rest of the apparatus. Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the inner end-of one ofthe keys, with the electric contact making device operated thereby, the key being in the position it takes when pressed 5 down by the player Fig. 3 shows a section along the line 33 of Fig. 2, looking down. Fig. 4 is a detail showing one of the electrical contacts. Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of a portion of the controller drum operated by the pedal, parts being broken away. Fig. 6 is an end view of the device shown in Fig. 5 as seen from the right of said figure. Fig. 7 shows the development of one of the units troller drum is at position number 1.

A represents a part of the frame of the keyboard, and A, A A A A and A represent rails extending across the keyboard at right anglesto the keys.

B re resents one of the keys which isof the usual orm, and weighted as at 1;. Near the inner end of the key is mounted an adjustable stepsil or capstan screw 1) which en-. gages the felt piece 0 secured on the arm O of the tee lever C, which is. pivoted as -at c to the flange ascrewed to the rail A. This tee lever C has an upwardly projecting arInC rovided with a pivot pin a for the finger D. his fingeris normally pressed outwards by means of the spring D, see Fig. 2, and carries. a padded pin or roller (1 which engages the wire F, fast to the key B., This-wire is bent laterally as at f to clear the tee lever C, and is then-inclined upwards as at f, and finally terminates in an arc shaped portion f which is concentric with the pivot center 0 when. the key is in the initial position, or before it has been struck by the player. The tee lever C. is normallydrawn downwards about its pivot c b means of the spring E which is adjusted y'means of the thumb t El I I g. I g H represents-one of a plurality of curved Fig. 8 is a diagram 75 its fin the-arc of a circle having as the center, as

Linsulating blocks to each of which the con- .tact pleces K and K are secured; These contact ieces are preferably fastened to the block H by means of the screws k and the binding screws k, to which latter the conducting wires are connected as shown in Fig. 1. The lower face of the block H is dentated shown in Fig. 2, and is faced with a felt or buck-skin strip h over'which project the contact faces k? of the. contact pieces K. The bottom contact piece K is provided with a contact face k.

- It will be noticed that the contact pieces K V do not extend radially inward as far as does the buckskin, and hence the finger D will not make contact therewith as the tee leverrises henceno pipe will sound .as the said lever rises. Thls is true also of the contact K, for

- known, is

when the tee lever Crises suddenly theinertia of the fin er D prevents it from moving outwardly wit sufficient rapidity to touch the contact K.

Only a slow rising of the .tee lever C, will cause the finger D to make contact with K. Asthe teelever C starts to descend the spring D brings the finger D swiftly into one of the notches h where it makes contact with the corresponding contact face 7c. It is intended'to have one block H, with itscorresponding contacts, and

i one tee lever and finger, for each key of the or an or other instrument. I

he energy of any moving mass as is well 1; w; sisted by a constant force the travel of the finger would normally vary as the square of the velocity at which the inner end of the key B swings upward, but by constructing the s ring E so that its tension varies :as its exure throughout 'its'rnovement, this motion upwards of the finger D may be caused to vary approximately as the velocity instead of as the square of the velocity, and therefore,

a series of equal ste s may be rovidedon the block H for the en d of the er to engage in when the tee lever has been thrown up under the influence of the blow given to the key. In the position shown in Fig. 2, the parts are in the position that they would assume when the key has been struck a moderate blow sufiicient only to throw" the tee lever up far enough to cause the finger to engage;

the third contact piece on'the block H.

the key were pressed down very softly by the player, the finger would make contact with .the lower contact face 70 on the contact piece K. If the key is struck a little harder, the finger would engage in the first tooth of the block H, while if it is struck quite hard,

the fin er will pass clear beyond the block,

and wil engage against the face 70 of the upper contact plece. Thus it will be seen that the finger may be thrown in any desired position by a performer, by simply striking the and if this energy were rekey with a varying: as ke s are struc y seen t at thenote'will be sustained as long as the finger is held in en agement with the contact iece for closing t e electric circuit, and the n er will so remain as'long as the key is presse j down by the layer. As soon as this key is released, owever, the inner weighted end will fall' of itsown weight, caus ing' the curved portion f of the wire F to strike the padded pin d, thus knocking the finger out of engagement with the contact piece a ainst the action of its spring 'D.

his wil break, the circuit, and the arts will be restored to the initial position.v hen the key is struck a ain, the curved portion f of the wire F will, swung clear of engagement with the finger v The wires 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,6, and 7 are connected to their respective contact pieces, and

then lead to sp 'ng contacts m to m respectively,see Fig, 5, which spring contacts press against the conducting rings pon the unit P- o carryin a pointer S, and this shaft carries a' pimon 2 engaging the'rack T carried by the rod T, which is operated by the edal T,

-which pedal is normally held'in t e raised osition by meansof the sprin T as shown 1n Fig. 6. It will be noted t at by simply press ng on the pedal T the pointer may be set to any one of eight positions. The arm S is thus caused to move over a, dial S for reasons hereinafter to be described. The electric current is carried from the battery N, or other source of electricit to the finger peed in the same manner pianists. It will be D by means of the wire n, an the other ter-' I minal of the battery is connected by the wire n to the spring contact m. The last contact segment p of each unit P of the-controller is adapted to make contact with a series of spring contacts 9., g g, etc., and isitself o t e connected by means .sprin contact m to one pole of the battery N. 0 these contacts, q and g, close the circuit through the first magnet 1 g and q close the circuit through the magnet 2 9 and g close the circuit through the magnet 3 etc. Each of these ma nets'operates anarmature 1", 2, etc., see 1 igs1, and this armaturewhen attracted to the magnet, operates a valve which admits air from the trunk O to the The corresponding ipe 1', 2, 3, etc.

trunk O is supp ied with air under pressure in any a proved manner, and the air 1s to be 1 admitte to thepipes 1, 2, etc., by valves operated by the armatures 1, 2, etc. in any lated from said rings, and said wires are bent "approved manner. -The means for supply ing the trunk with air, and the construction of'the valves -l'or the pipes not being a part of this invention willnot be further illustrated or described.

. The developmentof one of the units of the controller drum is shown in Fig. 7, the plates m, M28, m, m, m, m, and m7, being connected-by wires to the contact rings on which bear the springs m, m", m mt, m, m, and of, respectively, and also to the contact plates 9", 1 9 g, and g, respectively. The wiresby which these connections are made are sunk in'the insulating drum which supports the contact rings'so as to be insuradially outwards at the proper points and pass through holes in the-contact plates and rings and are soldered therein, and alter-.

wards cleaned oil" flush on the outside; These wires are represented in Fig. 7 by dotted lines terminating in a round dot,

which latter represents the soldered part. This is the well known method of illustrating the internal connections of a controller drum.

When thepointer S is on the zero mark of the scale S", the circuits will be arranged as in F ig. 8, the magnets being in parallel branches and itwill only be possible to sound one pipe at a time, the speed impressed upon the key by theoperator determining which pipe is to sound. For instance, if the key is slowly depressed, the finger D-will make contact with the contact piece K, and the pipe 1 will sound; if the key is depressed slightly faster, the finger D will makecontact: with the first of the series of contacts K, and pipe 2 will'sound. Still further increases in the speed of depression of the key will cause pipes 3, 4*, etc., to besounded, but at no time can any key sound more than one pipe at a time.

When the pointer S points to the division 1 on the scale S, the circuits will be arranged as in Fig. 9. The said pointer may-be moved toany position on the dial S by means of the pedal '1", and thus changes the arrangement of the electric circuits as will be hereinafter explained: thus it will be evident by referring- 'to Fig. 9, which shows the magnets in series that if the pointer is at the position 1 on the scale S, and if the finger D closes the circuit through the wire 1, the magnet 1 only will be energized and its corresponding pipe 1 Wl'l-l sound. If the finger closes the circuit through the wire 2, both of the magnets?- contact plates m to m will be central with theifirst dotted line to the right of said contacts: Then g still engages m but at its right hand side, Q22 to Q77 still engage the contact plates m to m" respectively but at will' connect together 9', g and m through the wires 9 and g, the rest of the contacts q to q, I to g and m? to m inclusive, being d together by similar wires, and g connects and m will be connected by the wire (,1 and as m which the contact ring p connects to.

q, .is connected by wire a with the battery, and as,thef connec'tions from m, m m m m, m, a'nd'm are connected to the 'wires 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7, respectively, and-as the connection to: the finger D remains unchanged, it is evident we have the scheme of connections shown in Fig. 9, which is obtained when the pointer is opposite 1 on the dial. The scheme of connections for theremaining positions on the dial is the same as for position 1, except that'the pipes are arranged to sound. in different groupings.

The connections for positions zero and 1 have been explained, and it will be remem-- bered that when thepointer is at position 1 that pipe 1 could either be sounded alone, or pipe 2, pipes'Z and 3 pipes 2 3* and 4, etc.', could be sounded slmultaneously with pipe 1, and thus a solocould be played onthe series of ipes 1, and the other pipes could be broug t into play as desired, to sound with the series of pipes 1*. By series of pipes 1, 2*, or 3 etc., is meantthe pipes of a certain tone'or timbre, one of which of the proper pitch is connected for operation by each key. Thus if the series of pipes 1 were the flute pipes, there would be'one of the proper, pitch for each key; hence if there were 88 keys inthe manual, it being remem manual is required, there would be 88 flute pipes, and a slow depression of any key would sound the flute pipe corresponding thereto; likewise the series of pipes 2 might represent the clarinet pipes, of'which there would also be 88, and striking the keys slightly faster the clarinet pipes could be sounded in unison with the flute pipes,a'nd so on for any number of pipes of diiTe-rent tones. I parts on different toned pipes would be desirable, the connections corres ondin to r the otherdial positions are provi ed, an the different combinations are tabulated below.

Now as the ability to play the solo 'bered thatwith this construction only one Position 0'. Either 1, 2 3*, 4 5, 6

or 7 a can be sounded, but only one at a time. Position 1. 1 solo; 2, to 7* sounding simultaneously. I i Y Position 2. 2 solo; 3 to 7 a and l soundin simultaneously.

j llosition 3. 3 sole; 4 to 7 and P Sounding simultaneously, I

v pipes made to come in'any. order desiredbaving the dial at theproper one of the pos :Positio'n solo; to 7jand. 1 t'0 sounding simultaneously. Position'5. 5 solo; 6' to multaneously. I. v

Thus it will be seen thatthesolo be played on any series of pipes 'and't e other- 'tions 1 to 7-, .;while by havmgthedial at posinumber of 4 vary'not on v the loudness of thetone, but

"tion 0, the solo partcanbe played on any "series of pipes, the series bemg dependent upon the speed with which the key is tie--- presse'd.

While I havestatedthatthe i es for-each key have the same pitch, but erent tii'nbres, I have merely mentioned this as' the ordinary construction for special cases the Q instrument may be constructed so that the n first pipe to sound would be the fundamental: tone forthat key;'by'strikin thekey'slightl harder the next pipe wo d sound,-swhic' could be-the fifth-above thefun'damental' *toneybut of the same timbre, and so for. the other pipes for that key which could give;

tones thatare upper-partialsof the funds mental, and so alter, by vmerely changing the speed with which the key is struck, not only t e volume of sound, but also its timbre.-

. Moreover, while I have shown seven pipes for each key, the number of these' pipes may teeth on thesector H being corres ondin 1y varied, the only limitation being t e ability of the operator to differentiate by his touch.-

'Thus it will be seen that azsingle edal maybe used to control the tone, an .each key may be 'used to sound either a singlepi e or a ipes simultaneously an thus' also its quality. .This invention, therefore, when applied to organs does away with'a large number of stops, pedals, and other devices used to control,the expressiomi but; which do not give the performer the ability to 'roduce the efie'cts 'due to' sudden or gra ed differences in the loudness or timbre of tone.

While the apparatus is illustrated as applied to an organ, it 'be' obvious .that a': fing'ermay be operated-by a key, and control.

strings, or other musical apparatuses well as organ pipes or reeds. It Wlll furthermore be evident that the finger may be used to oper-" ate pneumatic valves, 'which pneumatically control pipes or reeds of organs ,or strings of instruments or other like musical devices .I do not meanto limit my invention to the specific form of device, or to the application of the finger for closin electric circuits, except when so spe-Q cifica y stated in the claims.

art; can

devicefor roducing music that has several sound pro ucing means and that has 7. and l to 4.

means by which the speed of the part con- ..trolled 'by the operator determines which sound producing" means sh'all sound or the 'numberjoi them which'shall sound, also any ,musical'instrumerit in which the timbre of 'the. tone isgivaried in a'predetermined' order the 0 crating part by t he -o rator, except thatc assof nstruments-in w 'ch the sound producing means is struck, I consider w thm' the scope of my invention, v v

. I claim'bro'adly as'new: Y

Ina'fdevice for producing vibrations a plurality ofvibratio'n-producers, controlling means therefor, and'means for-operating a dependin g'fih pon the speed impressed upon eater or less number ,of said vibration-proucers,-depending-only on 'the speediof the controlling means;

. A musical instrument,- comprising oper- I means,

ating mechanism, sound-pro'duc meansiorvarying the quality 0 thetone in {predetermined order with the speed of the operatingwithout changing h mes-r1 J 1 and-means for causing the loudness of the sound produced to vary by predetermined gradations" with the s eed of the operating mechanism, withoutc anging itspit'ch.

4.- A musical instrument, com rising operducing means,'and means for causing the by predetermined gradations with the speed impressed upon the operating mechanism, without cha the pitch.

e 5. Awindmusicalinstrument, comprising operating a mechanism, ;sound producing means, and means forcausingthe loudness of the sound produced to vary from a pie determined degree .with the speed of the operating mechanism, without changing "the -p1tc V 1 6. A wind. musical instrument, comprising 0 crating mechanism, and means. for causing this 'timber'to yary by predetermined variations with the-speed of the operating mechaiiism, without changin the pitch.

1' 7. In-an-"inst'rument or producing vibra usicalinstrunient,comprising oper atmg mecha'msm, sound-producmgmeans,

u sical"i-ps'trume nt, comprising 'atingfinechanisrn, a plurality 0 sound probe increased or diminished, the number of operating mechanism, aplurality of soun producing means,.and-means for sounding. {any number of saidsound producing means,

said'number varying only with the speedof the operating mechanism.

9. In a musical instrument, the combination with a key and a plurality of sound producing devices, of means controlled by said. key for sounding any one of said devices, the

' device sounded being determined by the velocity of said key, substantially as described.

10. In a musical instrument, the combination with a key and a plurality of sound producing devices, of means controlled by 7 key for sounding any one of said devices, the

device sounded being determined by the velocity of movement of said key the said sounding means continuing to sound while the key is. held down, and means for automatically operating said controlled means to cut off the sound when said key is released,- substantially as described.

12. In a musical instrument, the combination with a key and a plurality of sound producing devices, of means controlledby the said key for sounding one or more of said devices, the device or devices sounded being determined by the velocity of movement of said key, the said sounding means continuing to sound while-the key is held down, and means for automatically operating said controlled means to cut off the sound-when said key is released, substantially as described.

13. In a musical instrument, the combination with a keyand a plurality of sound producing devices, of a moving member, the extent of movement of which varies with the velocity of said key, and means controlled by velocity of said key, and means controlled by r the moving member for sounding one or more of said devices, substantially as described.

15. In a musical instrument, the combi nation with a pivoted key and a plurality of sound-producing devices, of a moving member', the extent of movement of which varies with the velocity of said key, engaging means carried by said member, and means controlled by said engaging means for soundin any one of said devices, the device sounded being determined by the extent of movement of the engaging means, substantially as de scribed.

16. In a musicalinstrument, he combination with a key and a pluralit of sound producing devices, of a moving member, theextent of movement of which varieswith the velocity of said key, engaging means carried ..by said member and means controlled by said engaging means for sounding any one of said devices, substantially as described.

17.-In a musical instrument,. the combination with a key and a plurality of sound j producing devices, of a moving member the.

extent of movement of which varies with the velocity of said key, engaging means carried by said member, and means controlled by said engaging me'ansfor sounding one or more of said devices, the device or devices sounded being determined by the extent of movement of the engaging means, substantially as described.

18. In a musical instrument, the combination with a key and a plurality of sound producing devices, of a moving member acated by the said key, engaging means carried by saidmember, means controlled by said engaging means for soundingone or more of said devices, the said sounding means continuing to sound while the key is held down, and means for automatically operating said engaging means to cut off the sound. when said key is released, substantially as described. C j

20. In a musical instrument, the combina tion with a key and a lurality of sound pro ducing devices, of a ever actuated by the said key, .engaging means carried by said lever, and means controlled by said engaging means for sounding any one of said devices,

' the device sounding being determined by the speed of said key, substantially as described.

21. In a musical instrument, the combination with a key and a lurality of sound producing devices, of a ever actuated by the said key, a finger carried by said lever, and

' means controlled. by said finger for. sounding oneor more of said devices, the device or devices sounding depending upon the speed of said ke substantially as described.

22. n'amus-ical instrument, the combination with a key and a lurality. of sound producing devices, of a ever actuated by the said key, engaging means carried by said le- .ver, andmeans controlled by said engagingmeans for sounding any one ofsaid devices,

,the device sounding being determined by the speed of said key, the said sounding means continuing "to sound while the key is held. down substantially as described.

, 1 ,2313111 a musical instrument, thec'ombina tion with'a keyand a" luralityot sound pro ducin devices, of it ever actuated by said e a finger carried by said e t very, 130

I means controlled by said vices soun key, a spring1 for regulating t erforsounding one or more of said devicesi' tfie device or debeing determined by the speed of said ey, the said soun continuing tosound while the key is held down, and means-automaticall operating said finger to cutofi the sound w ensaid key is released, substantially as described.

24; In a musical instrument, the combination with a key and a plurality of sound producing devices, of a. lever operated" by said e movement of said lever w en operated by saidke'y, engaging means carrie by said lever, andjmeans controlled by said engaging means for soundng any one of said devices, the device soundmg being determined by the speed of said key, substantially as described. I p

25. In a musical instrument, the combination'with a key and a lurality of sound producing devices, of a ever operated by the said key, a spring for regulating the extent of movement of said lever when 0 erated by said key, engaging means carriedy said lever, and means controlled by said engaging means for sounding one or more of said de- 'vi ces,-the device or devices sounding being determined b the speed "ofsaid key, substantially as escribed.

26. In a musicalinstrument, the combination with a key and a lurality ofsound producing devices, of a ever operated by the said key, a spring for opposing the move-" ment of said lever when operated by said key, engaging means carried by said lever, and means controlled by-said engaging means for sounding any one of said devices, the device soundin .bei determined by the speed of said key, t e sai sounding means continug stantially as described.

1 27. In a musical instrument, the combina-- tion with a key and a lurality of sound producing devices, of at ever operated byth'e' said key, a spring for regulating the extent of movement of said lever when operated by said key, a finger carried by said lever, means controlled by said finger for sounding one or more'of said devices, the device or devices sounding being determined by the speed of said key, the said sound' means continuin to sound while the ke 1s held down, an means for automatica y operating said finger to cut off .the sound when said key is reeased, substantially as described. 2 8. The combination with a plurality of devices for producing vibrations ina transmitting medium, of; means for controlling said devices, the vibrations produced by a variable number of said devices beingsimultaneousl communicated to said transmitting m'e ium, the number, depending -upon the speed of said controllin'gzmeans.

29. In a musical instrument, the combination with a key, a plurality of sound producding means to sound while the key is held down, subing' devices and adplurality of contact plates,

of a leveractuate by said key, a finger carried by said lever,-a spring normally tend" to press s aid'fin er toward-said plates, an means controlle by said lates for sounding devices sounding being determined by the speed of said key, substantially as described. 30. In amusical instrument, the combina-' tion with a key, a. plurality of sound producing devices and a plurality of contact plates, of a lever actuate by the said key, a finger one or more of said devices, the device or.

carried by said lever, a spring normally tending 'to press. said fin er toward; said plates, and means controlled ysaid plates for sounding any one of said devices, the device sounding being determined by. the speed of said key, the said sounding means continuing to sound while the key is held down, substantially as described. I i

. 31. In a musical instrument, the combination with a key, a' plurality of sound producing devices and a lurality. of contact plates, of a lever actuated by said key, a finger carried by said lever, a spring normall tend" to press said finger toward said p ates, an

means controlled b said plates for sounding one or more of sai devices, the device or devices soundin being determined by the "speed of said e the said sounding means continuing to sound while the key is held down, substantially as described.

32. In a musical instrument, the combination with a key, a plurality of sound producing devices and a (plurality of contact plates, of a lever operate by the saidkey, a spring for regulating the extent of movementlof I said lever when operated by said key, a finger regulating t e movement of said lever when operated by said key, a finger carriedby'" said lever, a spring normall 1 tending topress pates, and means" or sounding one or said finger toward said controlled by said plates more of said devices,- thedevice' or devicessounding. being determined by the speed of 1 said key, substantially. as described.-

34. In a musical'instrument, the combin'a-- tion withakey, a plurality of soundproduc ing devices and a plurality of contact plates,

of. a lever operate by the said key, as ring for regulating the-movementof i said ever when operated by said key, a finger carried by said lever, a spring normallytending-to press said finger toward said plates, and

means'controlled by said plates for sounding any one of said devices, the device sounding being determined by the speed of said key, the said sounding means continuing to sound while the key is held down, substantially as described.

. 35. In a musical instrument, the combina-- tion with a key, of an electric circuit having a plurality of sections, a plurality of soundproducing devices, one in each section, means for connecting said sections in series or in parallel branches at will, means actuated by said key for completing the circuit through one or more of said sections, the

section or sections through which the circuit is completed being determined by the yelocity of the key, substantially as described. 1 X 36. In a musical instrument, the combination with a key, an electric circuit provided with a plurality of sections in series and a plurality of sound producing devices, of

means actuated by said. key for completing the circuit through one or more of said sections, and means controlled by each section for sounding one of said devices, the device or devices sounding being determined by the speed of saidkey, the said sounding device continuing to sound while the key is held down, substantially'as described. 38. In a musical instrument, the combina- -tion with akey, an electric circuit having a plurality of sections in series and a plurality of sound-producing devices, each provided with a controlling device located in oneof said sections of a lever actuated by said key, and a finger carried by said lever for closing the circuit through one or more of said sections and thus operating said controlling device or'devices sounding one or more of said sound produclng devices, the device or devices. sounding belng determined. by the speed of said key, substantially as described.

39. Thecombination with akey, and a plurality of sound-producing devices, of a'le-.

yer operated by said key, a spring forregu lating the' extent of movem'ent of said lever when; 0 erated by said key, and means controlled y saidleve'r' for sounding said devices,

the device or.de v'ices sounding being-deter; mined bythespeedofsaid Key, substantially p v a tion-with akey' and a plurality of sound pro as d'escril've'd'.

{40: The combinationlwith aLkey, and aplurality of sound-producing.devices,.'of a I ever' operated by said key, a spring toryreg'ulating the extent of'movemefit of said lever when 0 erated by said key, andm'eans controlled y said levenfor sounding one or more in t at d by said key, and means controlle -by said lever for sounding any one of said devices, {the device sounding being determined by the speed of said key, substantially as decont-rolledmeans, su

, 41. The combination with a key, anda plurality of sound producing devices, of sale ver operated by said key, a spring for opposemovement of said lever when 0 er:

scribed.

42PThe combination with a key, and a plurality of sound producing devices, of a lever operated by said key, a springfor opposing the movement of said lever when 0 erated by said key, and means controlle ,by. said lever for sounding one or more of said devices, the device or devices sounding being de- 'termmed by the speed of saidkey, substantially as described.

43. In a m-usicalinstrument, the combination with a key and a plurality of sound producing devices, of a moving member 0 erated by said key, engaging means carrie by said member, means controlled by said engaging means for sounding any one of said devices, the device sounding being determined by the speed ,of said key, and addi: ,tional means for modifying the operation of said controlled means, substantially as describe dv 44. In a musical instrument, the combination with a key and a plurality of sound producing devices, of a moving member-operatedby the said key, engaging means carried .by 'said member, means controlled by said engaging meansjfor sounding one or more of said devices, the device ordevices sounding being determined by the-speedof said key, and additional means for" modifying the operation of said controlled means, substantially as described. 1

45. In a musical instrument, the combina tion with a key and'a plurality sound progaging means for sounding any one of said dc ducing devices, of a moving-membrane erated by sa d key, engaging means carrie "by? v said member, means controlled by sa d en means continuing to soundwhilethe key is helddown, means for automatically operat-" ing said engaging means to out of? the sound when said, key; is released, and: additional means'for modifyingthe operation of said stan-tially as described.

46,. L-In'a musicalinstru'ment', thelcombina ducing devicesfof-a moving member opermeans for sounding :one'Jor. more of sai I vices, the device or devicesjsounding being determined by the speed of-saidfkey -means,for mod-ifyin fthego. eration oigsaid controliediriieanasu stantia y as described;

5 .47., In a musical instrument, the combine;

t en'with, a key and a pluralityof sound pro-1 Jlucing devices, ofa' levler operated by-said key, a finger ca'qried lnr'said levergmeans con 1 -trolled by said-finget-feli'soiindi igoneor more 10- of said devices,th'dfiee bt 'devlcessounding being .determined 'byjthdspeed-of said ,key,..

and independent meansfor modif the operation of said v linger,eontrolle -,means,

substantiallyasldescrrbed; 48. In a musical instr' said key, a

more of 'saidfdevicesfthe device ordevices the operation of said finger controlled means substantially as described. f

tion with a key and a plurality of'sound prodicing devices," of a lever operated" by the said key, a finger carried by said lever, means controlled by said fingertfjor sounding one or to sound while the keys held down, an additional means formodifyi'ng the operation of said finger controlled means, substantiallyv 40.ke'y, stinger-carried by said l'ever,-'means controlled y said finger for sounding one or more of said devices, the device or devices v T sounding being determined by the speed of lsaid key, the said s'ound' means'continuin to sound while: -the key ds held down, an

additional means for modifying the operation of said finger controlledmean's, substantially as described. i a

' 51. In a'musical instrument, the combina- -key, a'spring for'reg'ulating the extent j of movement of said lever when operated" by- .said key, a finger carried by said lever, means controlled by said finger for sounding one or: more of, said devices, the deviceordevices.

sounding being determined by the ,speed ofi' said key, andindependentmeansfformodify-i soundingbeing'fdetermined by the speed of saidkey,'a'nd additionalzmeansfor modifying.

, 49;; In a musical instrument,the combinervibrations; more of-said devices,fthe'device or devices sounding being: determined by the .speed of said key, the'said sounding means continuin tion with a key and-a plurality of so'und pro-.- ducing devices, ofa lever operated, .by said .inclu Fsaid kefi, a finger carried by said lever, means contro e d by said. finger for sounding one or moreof said device's, thedevice or devices s Jinding being determined by the speed of said key, and independent means for modify- ..i'ngi the 0 erationof said, finger controlled 'means,'su tantially as described.

'- 53,. The combination with a key, and' secontrolling-the operation of any one of said key, substantially as described.

,of yibratjion reducers, said selective means controlling t e operation of one or more of said vibration producers, the selection of the producer or producers to be operated depending-only on the speed of "the key, substanplurality of vibration producers, controlling le ctiv'e'means operated thereby, of a plurality [of vibrationproducers, sa1dselect1ve means -vibration reducers, the selection of the pro- 'ducer to. e operated depending only upon 4' .the speed of the 1 ent, the oombina-' tion with a keyand aplurality of sound 'producing devices, of a lever operated by the. finger carried by said lever,- means controlled-by said finger for sounding one or o so 54'. The'c'ombination with a ke and a se-z lective means operated thereby, o aplurality means therefor, and meansfor determining solely by the speed ofsaid controlling means as to which vibration 56; Ina device for producing vibrations, a

plurality of vibration producers, controlling means therefor, and means for determining solely by the speed of said controlling means the number of said vibration producers which shall emit vibrations. r

57. A wind musical instrument, comprising controlling mechanism, sound'producing means, and means for causing the loudness 1n.a predeterof. the sound produced to ya mined order withthe'speed o the controlling mechanism, without changingthe pitch, substantially as described;

producer shall emit- 58; A wind musical instrument, compris ing controlling-mechanism, and means for causing the timbre to. varyin a predetermined order, with the speed of the contro mechanism, without changing the pitch, substantially as described,

'59. In a musical instrument, the combination with a key, an electric circuit having a plurality of sections in series and .a plurallty of'sound producing devices, of meansoper-v ated by the said key for completing the circuit throu b one or more of said sect1ons, means d ed in each of said sections for sounding one of said devices, the device or devices sounding being determined by the speed of said-"key, and additionalmeans for varyin theorder-inwhich the circuit throu h sai 4 sectionamay be completed, substantlally as described. o 60. Ina-musical instrument, the combination with a key,'an electric circuit having a or plurality" of sections in series, a contact each section, anda plurality of soundproc osure of said branch ducing devices, of a lever operated by said key, a sprin for regulating, the extent of movement 0 said lever when operated by actin with said contact, said finger closing the circuit through one or more ofsaid sections and thus sounding one or more of said devices, the device or devices sounding being determined by the speed of said key, and additional means for varying the order of closure of'the circuit through said sections, substantially as described.

61. In a musical instrument, the combination with akey, an electric circuit having a plurality of sections in series and a plurahty of sound producing devices one for each section, of means operated by said key for completing the circuits through one or more of said sections, means controlled by said sections for sounding said devices, the section or sections through which the circuit is completed being determined by the speed of said i 4 I ey, operatmgmechamsm, and mechamsm o erated thereby for varying the order of circuits, substantially as described.

62. In a musical instrument, the combination with a key, an electric circuit having a plurality of sections in series a contact for each section, and a plurality of sound producing devices one for each section, of a lever o erated by said key, a finger carried by sai lever, for closing the circuit through one .or more of 'said sections and thereby sounding one or more of said devices, the said finger coacting with said contact thedevice or devices sounding depending upon the speed of said key, a pedal, and mechanism 0 erated thereby for varying the order of c osure of the circuits through said sections, substantially as described.

63. The combination of a plurality of vibration producers, and means for operatmg a greater or less number of said vlbration E producers, the determination of the number said key, a finger carried by said lever 00- of said producers which shall operate depending only on the speed of apart of said operating means.

64 In a musicalinstrument, the combination with a key and a plurality of sound producing devices, of means operated by said key and devices between said means and said sound producing devices for sounding simul-.,

taneously a pluralityof said devices, the number of devices sounding being determined bythe velocity of said key, substantially as described. I

65. The combination of a key, sounding means, means forv'arying by the speed of the key the loudness of sound produced by said sounding means, without changing the pitch, said sound continuing at the loudness so-determined. as long as the key is held in the operated position, substantiall as described.

66.: The combination of a ey, sounding means, means for varying by the speed of the key the volume ofsound produced by said sounding means, without changing the pitch,

said sound continuing at the volume so de-- termined as long as the key is held in the operated position, substantially as described. 67.j The combination of a key, sounding means, means for varying by the speed of the key the timbre of sound produced by said soundingmeans, Without changing the pitch,

said sound continuing at the timbre so'determined as long as the key is held in the operated position, substantially as described.

In testimonywhereof, I affix my signature, in presence QfgtWO witnesses.

- 1 1 JOHN W. DARLEY, JR. Witnesses;

. JNo. H. .STEvERs,

I J. Fnnn KNOBLOCK. 

